Feminist Friday: António Guterres

“The UN must be at the forefront of the global movement towards gender equality, an inalienable and indivisible feature of all human rights and fundamental freedoms: progressively moving from perceiving women and girls as a subject of protection to promoting their empowerment; from an isolated focus on women to gender mainstreaming.”

 

António Guterres is currently serving as the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations. He has held positions such as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1995-2002 and President of Socialist International from 1999-2005 until he was elected as the High Commissioner for Refugees for the United Nations. He has served as Secretary-General since January of 2017. Outlining his priorities for the United Nations, Guterres recognizes the need for greater ambition on climate change, sustainable development, and diplomatic relations - particularly in regard to increasing women’s participation in peace processes.